Proper saltwater fish nutrition consists of a wide variety of edibles from which to choose. Marine flake foods are widely considered to be a complete nutritionally balanced diet for marine animals. Marine flakes contain almost all of the vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and proteins that your animals will need. Many saltwater fish owners primarily feed their fish marine flakes, and simply use other forms of food as supplements to round out their animals' needs.
Brine shrimp is a primary food in proper saltwater fish nutrition, and it is available in freeze-dried flakes, cubes, time-release blocks, and in the egg form, should you desire to grow and hatch your own fresh shrimp. Brine shrimp provide a healthy amount of protein for marine animals. Another healthy protein is Krill. Krill is a small crustacean, and is even higher in protein than brine shrimp. Krill should be given to your fish in carefully monitored amounts, particularly if you are providing your fish with complete nutrient foods such as marine flakes.
Proper saltwater fish nutrition might also consist of marine pellets. Marine pellets are a complete nutritional food, much like marine flakes, that will provide your marine animals with most all of the nutrients that they require. Another all-purpose food is seaweed. Seaweed allows your fish to graze throughout the day, and it provides them with a very well balanced diet. It is worth mentioning that many saltwater fish enjoy grazing on seaweed, so you may want to seriously consider making sure that you keep this treat on hand for your animals.
It is important in maintaining proper saltwater fish nutrition to provide your fish with proper supplements. Plankton is an excellent freeze-dried food supplement that is rich in lipids, proteins, and beta-carotene. These nutrients are very important for your fish. Phytoplankton is also important in proper saltwater fish nutrition, as they provide fatty and amino acids and fiber that your fish needs.
To better ensure that your fish eat the food that you provide them, it is sometimes helpful to utilize a feeding or lettuce clip. To be certain that you are feeding your fish in a manner that they will be receptive to, make sure that you are familiar with your animal's feeding preferences. If you have fish that will not eat, be sure that you are providing them with seaweed to graze on. If nothing else works, this may at least give them the basic nutrients that they need to survive.
In making your selections to maintain proper saltwater fish nutrition, always keep in mind the particular needs of your fish and purchase your food products accordingly.
